||Koi No Yokan|| Park Seonghwa

||Chapter 10||

The chirping sound of the birds was the only thing to be heard when Seonghwa woke up from his dreamless slumber.

If anyone were to see him in that very moment, they would've thought they were looking at some work of art worthy of the most prestigious museums in the world: his golden locks caressed his neck and forehead, blending with the necklace and the embroidery of his tunic.

He lazily propped himself on his elbows as a ray of sun hit him right in the eyes, forcing him to abandon his bed to stretch his wings out.

Many depictions that the humans had made of him were wildly inaccurate regarding his wings: they were usually white and dainty, almost looking pathetic compared to his body. If only they were able to see those wings almost engulf him when he slept, to experience how every feather felt like velvet on one's fingertip, if only they were able to watch them almost absorb light from the sun and the moon and then reflect it like a giant prism... A mortal could've almost teared up to such sight.

Too bad they weren't meant to see it.

Once he had properly stretched his wings out, he absentmindedly played with the rose pendant on his chest, his mind still replaying the events of two nights prior like a broken record.

He could've never forgotten that night where he had finally felt alive.

Of course, one would think that after having seen love countless times he had grown sick and tired of it. 

But how could he ever be tired of feeling like that? How could he ever be tired of feeling like all the pieces of his puzzling life were finally coming together? How could he ever be tired of having a purpose? Not just the one of bringing love to the world, but the selfish, selfish purpose of having someone to love for himself? 

He observed the scenery in front of him: the forest seemed so small from his room, situated on a very high tower of his castle. The forest came after the sea that surrounded him, it seemed so calm compared to the multitude of creatures it was filled with upon his mother's orders. No mortal could've ever reached that island, covered from the public eye by a thick layer of enchanted fog and all kinds of "sea guardians" always on the lookout for intruders.

"Good morning,  my son"

Seonghwa was startled to see his mother standing in the middle of the big room, the smell of her perfumed oils filling the air in just seconds.

"M-mother...I didn't expect to see you here" he stuttered, almost as if he was caught int he act of doing something prohibited.

"What, can't I visit my only son now?" she questioned, the smile on her face as wide as her arms. Seonghwa was soon engulfed into a tight hug, a sense of reassurance pervading his whole being.

She was still his mother after all.

"I came here to see how you were adjusting into the new home... is everything of your liking?"

"Yes, mother" he simply replied. He then invited her to sit at the breakfast table, already filled with fruits of all kinds. The goddess stretched one hand towards a bunch of grapes, observing her son in the process.

"You don't seem too convinced, dear... is anything bothering you? You know you can tell me everything..."

"There's no need to worry mother, I'm fine" he replied, munching on a red apple.

Aphrodite glanced one last time at him before speaking again, absentmindedly gazing towards the rising sun.

"I hate to see that pouty face of yours. Are mortals being difficult this time? I wouldn't be surprised, to be honest, they can be so stubborn..."